Agazzari, Stefano, Blessed

AGAZZARI, STEFANO, blessed. - Regular canon, reformer of the canonical regular life, b. at Siena in 1354, d. at Bologna on 28–29 Oct. 1433. His work, encouraged and approved by Gregorio XII and Martino V, gave rise to the Congregation of the Regular Canons of the Savior, also called Rhenish (1419). At the age of fourteen he embraced the life of the Hermits of s. Agostino at S. Salvatore di Lecceto, three miles from Siena. He obtained from Gregorio XII that the said hermitage be transformed into a priory of Regular Canons (1408). This displeased the Hermits; the new Canons abandoned Lecceto, remaining without a permanent residence until 1414, when the same Pontiff granted them S. Ambrogio di Gubbio. From Martino V they received S. Maria di Reno and S. Salvatore di Bologna, which became their central house. The new Congregation became firmly established and prospered during the fourteen and a half years of the wise and zealous government of its rector general Stefano. All the biographers refer to A. by the title of blessed.